Religious leader bonds out

Green released from jail until court date on aggravated battery charge

The Independent, Gallup NM/November 4, 2005
By Jim Maniaci

Grants — The co-leader of an isolated religious group who was jailed on an aggravated battery with a deadly weapon charge posted bail Wednesday.

"General" James Green, 60, was released until his Nov. 8 preliminary examination in Cibola County Magistrate Court.

Green was booked into the Cibola County Detention Center on Oct. 29 after an altercation with two other men at the Shim Ra Na Holy Tribal Nation farm near Fence Lake in the rural southwestern portion of the county.

Green allegedly tried to cut Peter Green, 42, and Phillip Jordan, 55, with a sickle, a pole with a curved knife at the end, and in turn was beaten on the head and body with walking sticks. He allegedly said he was going to kill them and his wife Deborah Green, 58, for an unknown reason.

James and Deborah Green head up Aggressive Christianity, "The Army That Sheds No Blood." They began their ministry in California, serving troubled people in 1979. They wear uniforms with rank, a practice they copied from their experience in the Salvation Army before starting their own religious movement which places a heavy emphasis on the Bible and a vegetarian lifestyle.

Magistrate Court set James Green's bond at $25,000 with security and the 10 percent deposit was posted by Alfonso Lopez, according to jail officials. The magistrate's release conditions include James Green staying away from the victim, listed in court documents as Jordan.

The county's chief investigator, Sgt. Harry Hall indicated the incident is the first time anything involving criminal charges have been placed against the Greens. In all previous dealings, the sergeant said the couple has cooperated fully.

Because the farm takes in troubled adults who want to change their lifestyle, Hall said complaints sometimes threatening have been made by those adults' parents, but in every case turned out to be unfounded.

Contract public defender Gary Fernandez was assigned as James Green's lawyer.